Coal-distillation apparatus



Aug. 27, 1929. w, M, CARRET A1. 1,726,058

COAL DI STILLATION APPARATUS Filed Feb. 25, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug.27,1929. w. M. cARR ET AL con. DISTILLATION APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2Aug. 27, 1929. w. M. CARR ET AL 1,726,058

I COAL DISTILLATION APPARATUS Filed Feb. 25, 1926 f 4 Sheets-Sheet s Au.27,1929. w. M. CARR 5 AL" 1,726,058

COAL DI STILLATION APPARATUS Filed'Feb. 25', 19 26 4 Sheets-Sheet 4Patented Aug. 27, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM: IONCBIEI'F CARR, OF WOODCOUBT, BROOKLANDS, AND THOMAS JAMESASHLEY, DECEASED, LATE OF BBOADSTAIBS, ENGLAND. BY ALICE ELIZABETE'ASH-LEY. EXECUTE-Ix, OI! BBOALDSTAIRS ENGLAND.

COAL-DISTILLATION APPARATUS.

Application fled February 25, 1926, Serial No. 90,714, and. in GreatBritain Iarch 8, 1985.

charging of the retorts it is usual to employ valves. for closing theindividual branch connections, and isolatmg discs or valves are providedfor isolating the collecting or foul g main from the stand-pipe when theretorts connected therewith are to be scurfed or placed under repair.

Now with the object of obtaining equal conditions of pressure on allretorts and with the object of obtaining an improved and more thoroughwashing and scrubbing action'on the crude gas than has previously beenpossible in stand-pipes of uniform bore or crosssection it is proposedaccording to, this invention to make use 'of a standpipe whosecrosssectional area increases progressively in the direction of the flowof thegases, either upwards or, downwards the said increase beingefi'ected either by a series of set-oils or by a uniform taperingenlargement of the pipe. Where the crude gas is to be passed upwardlythrough the stand-pipe and washed and scrubbed by a descending stream ofliquor, the. cross-sectional area of the stand-pipe increases towardsthe top and that portion between the top retort and the collecting orfoul main may be further enlarged and provide with a series of bafileplates arranged to project the liquor obliquely across the pipe in theform of films which the rising gases are obliged to penetrate. Owing tothe increased cross sectional area of the stand-pipe at this point thevelocity of the gas is considerably reduced, and more time is thusallowed for the liqiior to take eifect upon the gas.

t will also be seen that as the cross-sectional area of the stand-pipeat any given point is made substantially proportional to the quantity ofgas to be carried the velocity of the gas will remain substantiallyconstant throughout the length of the stand-pipe so that ample time isallowed for the liquor to efiect its washing, scrubbing andcoolingoperations. Moreover, as the gas is kept in conliquor is requiredto effect the cooling.

tact with the liquor for a longer period, less The scrubbing and washingeffect can be increased by increasing the height of the enlarged upperpart of the stand-pipe as this effect is proportional to the size of thechamber so formed. It will be understood that the provision forincreased scrubbing and washlng of the gas in the manner indicated willbe\of great advantage in works where the scrubbing and washing plant islimited in size or is of small capacity for the make of A furtheradvantage of this improved arrangement is found in that the successiveoil'- sets of the stand-pipe render possible the use of shortconnections between the retort mouth-pieces and the stand-pipe and atthe same time the retorts to be mounted in the settmg 1n the mostadvantageous positions for heating.

This invention also provides (when conditlons are favorable) for thesealing of the lower end of the stand-pipe by a water seal arranged ator above the level of the retort house floor, thus dispensing with theneed for the usual downtake pipe extending to seallng means beneath thefloor, and also provldlng for immediate means of access to the bottom ofthe stand-pipe, for the purpose of cleaning it whennecessary and withoutinterference with the operation thereof. The invent on further providesmeans to prevent scrubbing liquor from entering the retort mouth-piecesthrough the branch connections,

1 means to provide for the removal of particles of tarry matter adheringto the faces of the valves which control the branch connections so as toenable the valves to be tightly closed, and finall A an improvedisolating disc or plate whic can be moved quickly into position toisolate the stand-pipe from the collectin or foul gas main.

e invention is hereinafter more fully described with reference to theaccompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of constructlon isillustrated. In these draw- 100 Inge:-

- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of as retort bench showinga pair of standpipes of improved construction.

'Fi'gures2 and 3 are respectively side eleva- 0 tion and plan views ofthe same.

Figure 4 is a front elevation partly in sec- 'the enlarged upper end ofthe stand-pipe containing bafiles.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of a central baflie, and

Figure 8 is a side elevation of a side baflle.

Figures 9 and 10 are fregmentary side and front elevations respectivelyof a modified arrangement wherein the enlarged upper part of thestand-pipe extends to a greater he'ght and additional baflie means areprovi led.

On referringto these drawings it will be seen that the stand-pipe dinstead of being of uniform cross-section throughout as heretofore, isincreased in cross-section from the bottom retort upwards by a series ofset-offs a thus providing an increasing bore or passage for the risinggas so that the velocity of the gas is kept comparatively low to enableequal pressure to be maintained in all retorts and a thorough andeffective washing and scrubbing action to be had within the stand-pipe.

By this means much of the tar and other impurities in the crude gas areprevented from reaching the foul gas main. Moreover the scrubbing and'coolingj inthe graduated stand-pipe greatly relieve the other-apparatuswhere complete purification of'the gas takes place.

Each stand-pipe serves a tier of coal distillation retorts b and theretort mouth-pieces are connected to the side of the stand-pipe bybranch connections, preferably of the spherical. jointed kind, describedin British Patent No. 217,969, dated March 19, 1923. These branchconnections 6 as shown in Fig ure 4 are each fitted with a control valve0 whereby theconnection may be closed when the retort is beingdischarged and charged and an inclined deflector plate d is formed on orattached to the inner wall of the stand-pipe at a point just above thecontrol valve to prevent the descending liquor gaining access to theretort mouth, and at the same time serving to deflect a stream of liquoron to the face of the valve and keeping same clean.

, The valve 0 is carried upon a lever arm a seated on a shaft or spindlec which passes through the wall of the stand-pipe, and is in the form ofa plate of larger diameter than the annular seat with which itco-operates. The valve is closed or opened by moving it towards or fromthe seat, this being (affected by turning the shaft or spindle c in onedirection or the other. Particles of matter which adhere to these valvesand seatings are removedaccording to this invention by imparting asliding motion to the valves. For this urpose the valve spindles 0 maybe provided with quick stitch-threaded screw or cam mechanism (notshown) for sliding the valves over their seats, or the spindles may asinthe construction illustrated be so mounted that they can he slidendways by hand without the aid of any mechanical device, hand levers 0being provided on the outer ends of the spindles for their manipulation.

To facilitate the insertion and mounting of the valves, the stand-pipeis formedwith apertures 6 adjacent the branch connections whichapertures are normally closed by cover plates 6' through which the valveoperating spindles project.

At a point above the uppermost of the retorts the stand-pipe is stillfurther enlarged at f, and there contains a series of battles adapted toproject the descendingliquor in theiorm of films obliquely across thepath of the rising gas. As shown in Figures 6 to 8, this arrangementincludes centrally disposed baflles g of inverted V-shaped constructionand side bafiies g which are mounted on the inner sides-of oppositewalls of the stand- .pipe in a manner permitting of their adjustment ina vertical direction. This enlarged portion of the stand-pipe may alsobe formed with apertures fitted with cover plates f to facilitateaccess. In' Fig. 1 the section line 1"--1' indicates 'the plane of thestage floor of the retort house.

At its upper extremity the stand-pipe a communicates by way of aninclined branch k with the collecting'or foul as main z and it is intothis branch k that ammoniacal and the isolating plate is slid forward tomove a solid or non-apertured portion across the bore of the pipe.

At the bottom of the stand-pipe it is the,

usual ractice to attach a fdown take pipe (whic drains tar and liquoraway from the stand-pipe) and to connect this pipe to a seal boxsituated below the floor. This ipe is liable to be obstructed and beingdi cult to clean is a source of trouble and delay.

We completely obviate this by dispensing with the usual down take pi eentirely and we so arrange the, bottom en of the standpipe that it makesa direct connection with a seal box 1 placed at or about the level. ofthe floor. This position greatly facilitates the inspection andcleaningof the seal box.

By connecting the seal pot to two standpipes and connecting the liquoroverflow pipe to this it is possible to avoid obstruction of theregenerator flues.

In order to enhance the washing, scrub.- bin and cooling effects, theenlarged portion at the top of the stand-pipe may be extended to agreater height and provided with additional baflles as shown in Figures9 and 10. In this case the enlarged portion f continues upas far as theinclined branch pipe h connecting with the collecting or foul main andthe nozzle for injecting the ammoniacal liquor 011011161 washing mediumis mountedcentrally of the u per end of the enlarged part of thestand-pipe. By this means the gas while travelling at areduced velocityis subjected for a longer time to the influence of the washing mediumand thewashing, scrubbing 1d cooling actions are therefore effected to agreater degree.

It may insome cases be practicable to continue the enlarged portion ofthe stand-pipe right up to the foul main land to connect it theretoeither directly or by a branch pipe of equivalent bore or cross-section.

We claim 1. Apparatus for the distillation of coal and recovery of coalgas, comprising a standpipe having a series of enlargements whosecross-sectional area increases progressively an the direction of theflow of the 'coal gas passing therethrough, a tier of retorts,

branches connecting the stand-pipe with the mouths of the retorts, meansfor spraying liquor into the upper end of the stand-pipe, and bafiiesfor deflecting the descending stream of liquor from the branchconnections.

2. Apparatus for the distillation of coal and recovery of coal gas,comprising a tier of of films across the path of the ascending gas.-

3. Apparatus for the distillation of coal and recovery of coal gas,comprising a tier of gas retorts arrange out of vertical alignment, astand pipe having a series of set-offs forming enlargements w ose'cross-sectional area increases progressively'in an upward dimotion,short connections of uniform length between the-retorts and the standpipe, means for spraying liquid into the upper end of the stand-pipe, agas collecting main, and pipe sections connecting the upper end of thestand pipe therewith.

4:. Apparatus for the distillation of coal and recovery of coal gas,comprising a tier of gas retorts, a stand-pipe extending upwardlyadjacent the retorts and having a series of set-ofis forming,enlargements whose cross sectional area increases in an upwarddirection, connections from the retorts to the stand pipe, means forspraying liquid into the upper end of the stand pipe, a pipe sectionconnecting the upper end of the stand pipe with a gas collecting main,an isolating plate in said pipe section, and a seal box directlyconnected with the lower end of said stand pipe.

In testimony whereof. they have afiixed theirsignatures.

ALICE ELIZABETH ASHLEY, Ewen-atria: for Thomas Jam Ashley, de-

ceased.

WILLIAM MONCRIEFF CARR.

